Lamp for motor-vehicles, &amp;c.



P. M. HOFFMAN.

LAMP FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, 6w.

APPLICATION HLED FEB- 16. I920.

1,388,567 v Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

P. M. HOFFMAN.

LAMP FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, 61c.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, 1920.

1,388,567. -PatentedAug 23,1921.

2 SHEETSSHEEI Z.

.52 wen PATENT OFFICE.

PETER M. HOFFMAN, OF DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS.

LAMP FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES, &d.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

Application filed February 16, 1920. Serial No. 358,831.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PETER M. HOFFMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Plaines, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Lamps for Motor- Vehicles, &c., of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates particularly to searchlights for motor-vehicles;and the primary object of the invention is to provide for motor-vehiclesa lamp which is capable of lightin the road-way for a long distance, andw ich will not in any way blind or confuse a-p roaching pedestrians ordrivers of approac ing vehicles.

The invention is illustrated, in its preferred embodiment, in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a broken sideelevational view of an automobile equipped with the improved lamp; Fig.2, a broken plan view of the same; Fig. 3, an enlarged broken sectionalview, illustrating the manner in which the lamp is mounted on the rearslope of the front fender of the machine; and Fig. 4, a similarsectional view,

illustrating the modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, A represents the hood of anautomobile; A, one of the front fenders; A one of the front wheels; Aone of the springs of the chassis; and B, the improved lamp mounted onthe front fender.

In the illustration given, the front fender is utilized as a part of themounting for the lamp, and serves also as a portion of thelamp-shielding means,

view of a person who is being met. Preferably, the lamp is so mounted asto project its rays forwardly beneath the fender at a slight angle tothe plane of the road; and by shielding the lamp-bulb and reflector inthe manner illustrated, it is possible to throw a strong light upon theroad-way for a distance of one hundred to two hundred and fifty feet,without causing any inconvenience to approaching pedestrians orapproaching drivers. Indeed, the invention enables the roadway to belighted in advance of a machine in such a manner as to be advantageousboth to the driver of a for substantially shielding the reflector andbulb from the d machine and to the driver of ing machine. I

In the illustration given, the rearwardly and downwardly sloping wall ofthe front fender is provided with a perforation of suitable size toreceive the lamp. An opening of five inches in diameter, or less, willsufiice for most purposes. In Figs. 1 and 2, the cone of rays which isprojected forwardly and downwardly through and beneath the fender isindicated by dotted lines and designated 1; and it will be observed thatthe lamp is so positioned with relation to the fender that the cone ofrays will pass inside the front wheel and above the springs of thevehicle, and therefore above the plane ordinarily occupied by a bumper,when a bumper is employed.

The lamp B is in the form of a removable unit carried by a tubularshield, Or mounting, B, which is mounted on the fender. The lamp-unitcomprises a casing 52 which is telescopically received in the rear endof the shield B; a reflector 2 mounted in the casing 2; a lens 2*demountably secured in the casing B in front of the reflector; and alamp-bulb 2 mounted in the base of the reflector. The lamp-bulb isprovided with a suitable connector 3 with which is connected theelectrical conductors of an extensible cable 3. The cable 3 extends alsothrough an eyelet t in the casing B and thence.through a conduit 5 whichis secured to the lower wall of the member B. The casing B is shownequipped with a springcarried latch 6 which secures the lamp-unit to thetubular mounting B, but permits ready withdrawal of the lamp-unit, whenesired.

The tubular shield, or mounting, B, preferably tapers forwardly, or isfrustoconical, with the large end to the rear. This enables a largerlamp-unit to be employed and also enhances the appearance of the device.The reduced front end of the member B extends through a perforation 7 inthe sloping rear wall of the fender. At the margin of the metalsurrounding this opening are applied metal rings 8 and 9, which aresecured to the metal of the fender by rivets 10. The ring 8 is providedwith trunnion-ears 8 which support lateral trunnions, or pivot studs,11, with an approach- 20", and a lamp 20.

which the member B is equipped near its front end. A rubber gasket 12 isclamped between the ring 8 and the fender and the inner margin of saidgasket bears against the member B, thus making a dust-proof joint.

The lamp should be so set as to direct its cone of rays forwardly andslightly downwardly, so that the cone of rays will pass just beneath thefront end of the crown of the fender. In the illustration given in Figs.1 and 3, the inclination of the device is rendered adjustable by meansof the pivotal connection described, in conjunction with an adjustingrod 13, which has its upper end connected, by a pivot 14, with a lugcarried by the member B, the lower end of the rod 13 being threaded andextended freely through a perforation in a bracket 15 carried by thefender, and said rod being equipped with clamping nuts 16, thus enablingthe inclination of the lamp to be varied, as may be necessary.

Referring to Fig. 3, 17 designates an annular shoulder, with which thelampcasing 2 is provided near its front end. The flange of the reflectorbears against this shoulder, and the lens and reflector are secured inthe casing by means of a removable split ring 18. If desired, akey-controlled lock may be employed for securing the removable lamp B toits mounting B. Such lock is not illustrated, how-ever.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, A represents a front fender; Brepresents a lamp-unit; B represents a tubular shield or mounting membercarried by the fender. In this construction, the fender is perforated,and the metal is drawn rearwardly to form an integral tubular boss 19,which telescopically receives the front end of the tubular mounting BThe lamp-unit B comprises a casing 20, a reflector 20 a lens The lamp 20is equipped with a connector 21, with which are connected the wires ofthe cable 22.

The tubular mountingB is formed into the tubular boss 19, and isequipped with a latch 23 whichdetachably secures the easing 20 to themember B Thus, the lampunit B may be removed, at will.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the axis of the lamp extendsforwardly and slightly downwardly, so as to meet the road-way a longdistance ahead of the machine. For any particular machine, Where suchmachine is equipped with the improved device by the manufacturer,especially, the desired angle of inclination may be determined inadvance, thus rendering it unnecessary to provide for adjusting theangle of inclination.

In each illustration given, the tubular mounting carried by the fenderand the fender itself serve as a shield for substantially hiding thelamp-bulb and reflector from the eye of a person approaching the machinefrom a position in front of the machine. This will be quite evident fromthe illustration given in Fig. 1. In practice, it is necessary that theshield shall be of a length equal to several times the depth of thereflector, and that this shield, or a portion of it, shall be interposedbetween the reflector and a view point located in front of the machine.It is also a matter of great practical importance that the lampunitshall be removable from the rear of the shield.

It will be understood that by reason of the fact that the lamp-bulb andreflector -are substantially hidden from the eye of a person approachingthe machine from the front, the glare or blinding effect which is sowell-known in connection with automobile search-lights, is eliminated.The result is that a machine equipped with powerful lights may bedriven, either in city or country, without danger either to the driverof a machine equipped with the improved device, without danger toapproaching pedestrians, and without danger of blinding the driver of avehicle which is being met. Moreover, the improved lamps are sopositioned and shielded that they will not cast their rays through therear window of a machine ahead, or against the windshield of suchmachine. Thus, the danger of blinding or confusing a driver in a machinetravelin ahead of the machine equipped with t e improved device iseliminated.

As will be readily understood from Fig. 1, in the use of the improveddevice, the shielding means which substantially hides the reflector froma view-point disposed above and in front of the lamp overlies the coneof rays for a long distance in front of the reflector, such distancebeing equal to many times the depth of the reflector. Thus, for anordinary automobile, the length of the shielding means in front of thereflector may be from two to three feet, whereas the depth of thereflector ordinarily does not much exceed six inches.

It is well known that for night driving, in the country, particularlythe use of strong head-lights is essential for safe driving. On theother hand, the use of head-lights of the form ordinarily employedinvolves very reat dan er when mac lines meet, owing to t he fact thatthe lare from the head-light of each machine linds the driver of theother machine. Usually, it is sought to lessen this danger by turningoff the headlights when machines near each other, but this involves thedanger of leaving the road way insufliciently lighted and invites dangerof collision, or other accident. Such accidents have become exceedinglyfrequent,

because of the use of improper lighting de-- vices. Generally, inmunicipalities the ordinances require a machine to be driven without theuse of head-lights. This is objectionable, because some streets arepoorly lighted. With the improved lighting device herein described, itis possible to use the head-lights in cities, as well as in the country;and the use of head-lights shielded.

in this manner possesses the distinct advantage that the rays of lightare caused to sweep the road-way at a long distance in advance of thevehicle, so that in approaching cross streets, drivers are given amplewarning and can use all necessary caution to prevent accidents, whilestill maintaining all speed which it is desirable to use. A futheradvantage arising from the use of the improved light is that the driverof a machine is free to give his sole attention to driving and he neednot be constantly annoyed and disconcerted by turning the headlights onand off when vehicles are met. This is especially advantageous indriving in the country environments of large cities, where vehicletraflic is heavy.

It may be added that other kinds of lamps than electric lamps may beemployed as a light source, as, for instance, acetylene or other lamps.It should be noted, also, that the lamp unit, including the lens, is, inthe preferred construction, mounted so far back in the tubular shield,or mounting as to effectually protect these parts from mud, mist, snow,etc. In case dust should settle on the lens, the lamp-unit may bewithdrawn readily to permit cleansing. Again, where the lamp is providedwith a long cord, as is preferred, the lamp may be employed as atrouble-lam It is noteworthy also, that the front ori cc of the tubularshield is inside the plane of the front wheel, and, moreover, therotation of the wheel is such that any mud thrown will be cast in aforward dfilGFEtllOH and none will enter the tubular s 1e The foregoingdetailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only,and no unnecessary limitation should be understood therefrom, but theappended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in viewof the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure'by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a front fender of a motor vehicle, of a lamphaving a tubular mounting carried by the fender in the rear of the highpoint thereof and adapted to project its rays beneath the fender, whichserves as a shield, the front end of said tubular mounting beingdisposed near the rear slope of said fender.

' 2. The combination with a front fender ,provided in its rear slopewith an opening, and a lamp mounted in the rear of to project its raysforwardly beneath said fender.

3. The combination with a front fender of a motor vehicle provided inits rear slope with a perforation and equipped in the rear of saidperforation with a lamp mounting whose front end is disposed at saidperforation, of a rearwardly removable lampunit carried by said mountingcomprising a casing, a reflector mounted in said casing, and a lamp-bulbmounted in said reflector.

4. The combination with a front fender of a motor vehicle provided inits rear slope with a perforation and equipped in the rear of saidperforation with a tubular lamp-mounting whose front end terminates atsaid perforation, of a rearwardly removable lamp-unit carried by saidmounting comprising a casing, a reflector mounted in said casing, alamp-bulb mounted in said reflector, and a lens mounted in said casingin front of said reflector.

5. The combination with a front fender of a motor vehicle having itsrear wall provided with an opening, of a tubular mounting carried bysaid fender and having its front end entered in said opening, a con--duit adjacent said mounting, and a removable lamp-unit carried by therear portion of said mounting, comprising a casing, a

reflector mounted therein and a lamp-bulb mounted in said reflector, andconductors extending through said conduit and through a wall of saidcasing and having electrical connection with said lamp-bulb.

6. The combination with a front fender of a motor-vehicle, said fenderhaving a perforationin its rear wall, of a lamp device comprising atubular shield having its front end disposed at said perforat'ion,whereby the fender will serve as a shieldextension, and a lamp-unitmounted in the rear portion of said shield.

7. The combination with a front fender of a motor-vehicle, said fenderhaving a perforation in its rear wall, of a lamp device comprising atubular shield having its front end disposed at said perforation wherebythe fender will serve as a shieldextension, and means for adjusting saidshield to vary the inclination of the lamp.

8. The combination with a fender provided in its rear wall with aperforation, of a lamp device comprising a tubular mounting having itsfront end disposed at said perforation, whereby the fender will serve asa shield-extension, pivotal connections between said mounting and saidfender, means for adjusting said mounting to vary the inclination of itsaxis, and a lampunit carried by said mounting.

9. The combination With a fender provided in its rear wall with aperforation, of a gasket in said perforation and a lamp devicecomprising a tubular shield having its front end received in saidgasket, whereby the fender will serve as a shield-extenslon, a lamp-unitcarried by said shield, and means for supporting and adjusting saidshield.

10. The combination with a fender provided in its rear wall with aperforation equipped with a gasket, and a lamp having a tubular shieldwhose front end is encircled by said gasket, whereby the fender willserve as a shield-extension, and means for supporting said lamp.

PETER M. HOFFMAN.

